Bullying Protocol at TIS
At TIS, we continue to reaffirm our belief that bullying is not to be tolerated in any form. This year the school has renewed its Bullying Policy Guidelines and reaffirmed its commitment to make TIS a school where bullying is identified and dealt with appropriately. The vocabulary of what constitutes “Bullying” is clearly stated and explicitly understood.
Definition of Bullying
Bullying happens when one person uses their power over another person physically, verbally, socially or on social media.
Bullying is not one incident but a number of repeated ongoing events which targets one person.
The Bully is someone who has power over someone else and shows this power verbally, physically, emotionally, socially and/or through the media.
The Victim is someone who is being bullied and feels unsafe in the way that they are being treated by other individual/s.
The Bystander is the person who watches the bullying happen and can also then be held responsible for participating in the bullying.
Upstander is the person who makes the decision to be helpful and proactive. They DO something about the bullying.
Types of Bullying
There are four main types of of bullying:
Verbal
Physical
Social
Cyber
Responding to Bullying
Students will learn strategies on how to respond to bullying. Here is what will be taught to students:
Be nice to the student who was bullied.
Being someone’s friend who was bullied is a great way to respond positively to bullying behavior.
Don’t be a Bystander. STAND UP for Others. Instead of watching, laughing, cheering, or joining bullying behavior leave the situation as soon as possible.
Use your words and say “You need to STOP bullying or I will tell”
If you see someone being bullied or you are being bullied you must tell a trusted adult!
You can tell any teacher at school.
Rather than watching someone be bullied, leave the area and go get an adult to help.
Help put an end to bullying behavior by choosing not to encourage others to bully.
If you are a VICTIM of Bullying
It’s not your Fault so don’t blame yourself.
It’s not something you have done so don’t say mean things to yourself.
No one deserves to be bullied don’t think you deserve it.
Its nothing to be ashamed off so please tell somebody!
What Constitutes Bullying
Fighting, hitting, or using any other violence
Yelling, swearing, shouting at others.
Threatening others
Breaking items.
Posting mean things online.
Making comments or gestures as someone walks by.
Even making faces like rolling eyes is bullying if it is repeated.
How to decide whether it is Bullying or not?
When someone says or does something unintentionally hurtful and they do it once. That's RUDE!
When someone says or does something intentionally hurtful and they do it once. That's MEAN!
When someone says or does something intentionally hurtful and they keep on doing it even when you tell them to stop and show them you are upset. That’s BULLYING
How can you tell if someone is bullying? Sometimes it is not bullying and can be called something else.
Joking Around: Everyone is having fun. No one is getting hurt. Everyone is participating equally.
Conflict: Two people with a balance of power that have a fight or argument is agreement. A solution can be found and the disagreement is settled.
A one time thing: Someone is being mean on purpose. It's a reaction to strong emotion it happens once and doesn't repeat itself.
Bullying: Repeated unwanted aggressive behaviour toward someone. Someone is being hurt on purpose; it can be social , verbal physical and cyber.
THE BULLY TARGETS a VICTIM by repeating the acts of bullying more than once.
A bully is NOT a bully if they say a mean thing, disagree with you or use punching hitting or pushing in a physical fight in one incident.
This is an incident and should be reported and dealt with separately.
A BYSTANDER is also involved in a BULLYING Incident.
The BYSTANDER is the student who laughs at the things someone else does, or watches things happen to someone else and does not do anything to stop it.
BYSTANDERS are also helping to BULLY if they do nothing.
BYSTANDERS need to STAND UP for the VICTIM
If you watch someone being bullied and either laugh, joke about it or just be present YOU are also involved in the bullying. Bystanders have powerful roles...as they can either be helpful in the situation or hurtful.
If you notice that someone in your group or near you is being laughed at or hurt in any way... You must tell that person to STOP!
UPSTANDERS make an effort to STAND UP to BULLIES. They make a decision to STOP THE BULLYING.
